PARIS — Several NATO countries are developing new naval strategies centered around the use of sea drones aimed at keeping adversaries out of allied waters. This initiative is inspired by Ukraine’s employment of similar weapons to target Russian vessels.
The alliance’s nations are members of the Joint Capability Group for Maritime Unmanned Systems (JCGMUS), which was established following the 2018 NATO summit in Brussels. This group includes over a dozen countries, including full members, partners, and observers.
Each September, the member countries participate in one of the largest exercises focused on naval unmanned systems, known as REPMUS (Maritime Unmanned Systems Exercise). This drill, carried out in collaboration with the Portuguese Navy, aims to expedite the testing of drone technologies and enhance interoperability among NATO allies.
In 2024, the focus of these exercises will shift to employing unmanned systems to create distance from adversarial forces. Craig Sawyer, chair of JCGMUS, indicated during a panel at the Euronaval defense exhibition on November 5 that the roadmap for REPMUS in 2025 will prioritize non-traditional sea denial tactics. He mentioned that this includes strategies for limiting an adversary’s maritime freedom of action through anti-access and area denial capabilities, drawing lessons from the conflict in Ukraine.
A defining aspect of Ukraine’s naval strategy has been the use of various unmanned surface vessels, which have, at times, targeted Russian ships directly at sea or in port to neutralize threats.
Additionally, Sawyer noted that next year’s drill intends to showcase a project demonstrator for an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) barrier, an initiative led by the United Kingdom since its inception in 2020. This project is designed to develop a technical demonstrator that integrates legacy and interoperable maritime uncrewed systems to enhance anti-submarine warfare capabilities.
The ASW barrier initiative involves collaboration with 12 other countries: Italy, Canada, France, Germany, Spain, the U.S., Portugal, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Australia.
The extensive implementation of drones in Ukraine across various operational spheres has led to increased investments in unmanned technologies, with many nations now pursuing national tenders to acquire new platforms. However, Sawyer cautioned that while acquiring more unmanned assets is essential for many countries, tackling these initiatives independently could pose significant risks.
Elisabeth Gosselin-Malo is a Europe correspondent for Defense News, specializing in military procurement and international security, particularly in the aviation sector. She is currently based in Milan, Italy.
